Rubus plant named &#39;emr 20172&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Rubus idaeus , ‘emr 20172’, characterized by its attractive, pale red, bright blunt conical shaped fruit that is well displayed and easy to detach (even in the pink stage), excellent shipping properties and shelf-life that make an ideal variety for large-scale commercial production as a primocane fruiting cultivar, its moderately vigorous primocanes that are held erect with developed lateral branches, its pines and thorns that are not prominent enough to interfere with picking and/or pruning, its berries with excellent eating quality both at harvest and after shipping, its berries that are sweet, fairly aromatic, firm, and juicy with a good balance of sugar and acid, and its early to very early fruiting on primocanes in late summer to early autumn and is not suitable for double cropping.

Botanical classification: Rubus idaeus hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘emr 20172’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of raspberry plant, botanically thought to be of hybrid origin with Rubus idaeus and other species in its ancestry. ‘emr 20172’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘emr 20172’. ‘emr 20172’ is a new raspberry plant grown for fruit production.

‘emr 20172’ arose from an on going breeding program conducted by the Inventor in East Malling, Kent, United Kingdom. The objectives of the breeding program are to develop new cultivars of Rubus with outstanding fruit quality in primocane fruiting varieties.

‘emr 20172’ was discovered by the Inventor as a chance seedling in summer of 2009 in a trial bed that had been planted with seeds of unknown parentage. ‘emr 20172’ underwent further trials in the United Kingdom and Spain from 2010 to 2017 to verify its unique and stable characteristics.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor by root cuttings in East Malling, Kent, United Kingdom in winter of 2009. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by root cuttings, stem cuttings, and tissue culture using meristem tissue has shown that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘emr 20172’ as a new and unique cultivar of Rubus.

-   -   1. ‘emr 20172’ exhibits attractive, pale red, bright blunt         conical shaped fruit that is well displayed and easy to detach         (even in the pink stage).     -   2. ‘emr 20172’ exhibits excellent shipping properties and         shelf-life that make an ideal variety for large-scale commercial         production as a primocane fruiting cultivar.     -   3. ‘emr 20172’ exhibits moderately vigorous primocanes that are         held erect with developed lateral branches.     -   4. ‘emr 20172’ exhibits spines and thorns that are not prominent         enough to interfere with picking and/or pruning.     -   5. ‘emr 20172’ exhibits berries with excellent eating quality         both at harvest and after shipping.     -   6. ‘emr 20171’ exhibits berries that are sweet, fairly aromatic,         firm, and juicy with a good balance of sugar and acid.     -   7. ‘emr 20172’ exhibits an early to very early fruiting on         primocanes in late summer to early autumn and is not suitable         for double cropping.

‘emr 20172’ can be compared to the cultivars ‘Kweli’ (not patented) and ‘Imara’ (not patented). ‘Kweli’ and ‘Imara’ are similar to ‘emr 20172’ in fruiting on primocanes, and in having similar plant habits, similar yields, blunt conical shaped fruit, excellent commercial quality and good shelf lives. ‘Kweli’ differs from ‘emr 20172’ in having a cropping time that starts at least 2 to 3 weeks later, in also producing fruit on floricanes, and in having leafets that are not held flat and darker fruit that is less sweet at harvest. ‘Imara’ differs from ‘emr 20172’ having a cropping time that starts at least 1 week later, in having canes that have more thorns that are darker in color, in also producing fruit on floricanes, in having darker fruit. that is less sweet at harvest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Rubus. The photographs were taken of plants about 3 years in age as grown in peat based trough containers in tunnels in East Mailing, Kent, United Kingdom.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the fruiting canes of ‘emr 20172’ showing berries at different stages of maturation.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the fruit of ‘emr 20172’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a view of a dormant cane of ‘emr 20172’. The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Rubus.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 2 year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown under Spanish tunnels in trough containers in East Mailing, Kent, United Kingdom. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London; England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. This variety is primarily grown as a primocane so the descriptions are focused on the year cane toward the end of the summer when in full production.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—As a primocane; early season; flowering             from July to late October in Southern England.         -   Plant type.—Fruit producing perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Upright and not overly vigorous with             well-developed laterals and branches.         -   Height and spread.—Can vary significantly depending on             pedoclimatic conditions, irrigation management and             fertilizer regime, for plants grown on a coarse peat-based             substrate in a typical year the primocane canes can reach up             to 1.5 m height, spreading of around 1 to 1.5 m, heat or             water stress can cause the primocanes to stop growing at             around 1 m and advance the cropping season.         -   Hardiness.—This trait has not been fully characterized in a             range of cold weather climates but the plants can             successfully grow in England (U. K. Hardiness Zone 8) and             areas of central Europe (U. K. Hardiness Zone 7).         -   Diseases and pests.—No resistance to pests or diseases has             been observed and intermediately susceptible to Verticillum             wilt (caused by Verticillium dahliae) in field conditions of             Southern England.         -   Root description.—Fibrous and vigorous.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.         -   Propagation.—Root cuttings (preferred), stem cuttings or             tissue culture.         -   Root development.—1.5 to 2.5 weeks to initiate roots under             mist, an average of 2 months to fully develop as a young             plant from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Cane description (new growth; primocanes, mature canes; floricanes):     -   -   Cane size.—An average can vary with the season, typically             1.4 to 1.6 m in length but up 1.8 m in length has been             observed, an average of 6.8 mm in width at mid stem.         -   Stem color.—The new canes are pale green as they grow (145B             to 145D), towards the end of the growing season they mature             to a darker color at the base 166A, that fades into lighter             greener shades toward the top of the cane (145B to 145C),             the dormant cane is primarily 166B in color and typically             under conventional polythene tunnels the canes develop only             a mild blush of 184A that can be more pronounced under             different growing conditions.         -   Stem surface.—New growth; semi-glabrous with some (usually             sparse) spines and thorns, spine color 183B.         -   Stipules.—2 per petiole, slightly pubescent but primarily             smooth, an average of 7.8 mm in length, linear in shape,             color 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Time of vegetative bud burst.—Early to mid season.         -   Leaf shape.—Ovate in overall form.         -   Leaf division.—5 leaflets (occasionally 3).         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf orientation.—Primarily flat (occasionally pendant).         -   Leaf size.—An average of 18.3 cm in length and 18 cm in             width.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 27 per cane.         -   Internode length.—An average of 4.4 cm.         -   Leaflet shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaflet base.—Terminal leaflets; cordate, lateral leaflets;             ovate to oblique.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate, color primarily matches leaf             color.         -   Leaflet margins.—Doubly serrate.         -   Leaflet arrangement.—One terminal and 1 to 2 lateral pairs.         -   Leaflet attachment.—Sessile, occasionally half stalked or             stalked.         -   Leaflet surface.—Upper and lower surface slightly rugose.         -   Leaflet color.—Young leaf: upper surface 144A, lower surface             144A; Mature leaf: upper surface 137D, lower surface 146B.         -   Leaflet size.—Terminal; an average of 11 cm in length and             7.8 cm in width, lateral; an average of 9 cm in length and             4.7 cm in width.         -   Petioles.—Round in shape, an average of 4.3 cm in length and             1.9 mm in width, color 145C, surface pubescent and without             spines and prickles.         -   Rachis.—Round in shape, an average of 3.1 cm in length and             1.4 mm in width, color; sun exposed upper surface 145A and             suffused with 173A, shaded lower surface 145C, all surfaces             pubescent and without spines and prickles. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Raceme, an average of 11 cm in length (from             base of petiole), average of 2 cm in length (from base of             rachis) and 1.6 cm in width under first bud.         -   Rachis (peduncle).—Round to oval in shape, color 145A,             almost glabrous surface with a tiny amount of downy hair and             occasional spines and prickles.         -   Pedicels.—Oval in shape, an average of 3.75 cm in length and             1.15 mm in width, color 146D, surface glabrous without             spines and prickles.         -   Flower buds.—Triangular in shape with a flat wide bottom and             apex narrowing to a point, up to 6.3 mm in width and 8.5 mm             in length, color 144B.         -   Flower type.—Spreading calyx with a center of a ring of             numerous upright stamens and with numerous pistils in the             center, petals are quickly shed upon opening.         -   Flower number.—An average of 7.6 per raceme.         -   Flower size.—Average of 7.3 mm in depth and 1.7 cm in             diameter.         -   Sepals.—Five, an average of 7.6 mm in length and 4.6 mm in             width, base aristate, apex aristate, both surfaces have             downy hair and are spineless.         -   Petals.—Five, dropped at the fruit maturity stage, an             average of 7.39 mm in length and 3.08 mm in width, linear in             shape with a rounded apex and oblong base, glabrous on upper             and lower surfaces, thin, color in flowering to fruit             maturity; 155B and changing to N155C, 36D, 55B, and finally             54C.         -   Receptacle.—An average of 9.8 mm in diameter and 17.1 mm in             depth, color 158A.         -   Androecium.—An average of 94 stamens that form a concentric             ring in an average 9.4 mm in diameter, inserted into calyx             at base, about 5.19 mm in length, filament color 158A,             pollen was not observed.         -   Gynoecium.—An average of 110 pistils, styles are an average             of 3.4 mm in length and 155B in color, stigmas are very             small and ovate in shape. -   Fruit description:     -   -   Fruit number.—An average of 10 per fruiting lateral.         -   Fruit size.—An average 6.7 g (range 5.0-9.5 g).         -   Fruit shape.—Aggregate fruit is blunt conical.         -   Drupelets.—An average of 102 per aggregate fruit, globose in             shape, firm, presenting a small dent in the middle, an             average of 4.82 mm in diameter and height, color when             mature; 45C, surface is glossy, style and stigma; persistent             at maturity.         -   Persistence of bracts.—Persistent.         -   Fruit size as aggregate.—2.2 cm in length and 2.19 cm in             width on average although a range of variability is possible             in this trait depending on the period of record and whether             terminal fruit are part of the average or recorded             separately.         -   Receptacle.—It is conical to blunt conical in shape and             persistent at harvest, fleshy, size varies with individual             fruit size, generally creamy white in color (155B to 155C)             but showing varying shades of pink in fully ripe or overripe             fruit (becoming N155B with various amounts shading of 41C.         -   Fruit maturity date.—Late summer to early fall as an early             to very early primocane variety in England.         -   Seed.—Kidney shape, 1 per drupelet, 2.3 mm in length, 1.3 mm             in width, 164D in color.         -   Cropping frequency.—Annually, produced on same year cane             (primocanes).         -   Flavor.—Sweet, juicy.         -   Brix.—Under our growing conditions, 9.5-10°.         -   Fruit weight.—Average of 6.7 g.         -   Shelf life.—When harvested optimally, fruits can be             transported and kept in chilled conditions without             noticeable deterioration for 6 or more days after picking. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rubus plant named ‘emr 20172’ as herein illustrated and described. 